On Air Force Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the defenders of Ukraine's skies, congratulated them on their professional holiday, presented state awards, conferred the highest military rank, and handed a battle flag and honorary designation ribbons.
"Today is the day of the guardians of Ukrainian skies. A day to honor those who, around the clock, every day and every night, fight against Russian evil, against Russian missiles and drones, strike back, support our warriors on the front line, and carry out their missions with forces smaller than those of our enemy, yet always with great dignity – often even with sophistication – when, using the means available to them, our Air Force achieves major results that no one else in the world has ever achieved," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The President noted that the Air Force is the component of Ukraine's defense that, in many ways, shapes the course of modern warfare.
"We did not allow our Air Force to be destroyed, and have built it up to the point where Russia regularly loses its aircraft," the Head of State said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the last thing Russia's head has left to bet on is his massive air attacks against Ukraine. Our combat aviation is destroying Russian cruise missiles and drones, our air defenders are doing everything possible to destroy their ballistic missiles, and whenever Patriot batteries have the necessary means, our defenders of the sky succeed. Thanks to cooperation with our European partners, IRIS-T, NASAMS, and Hawk surface-to-air missile systems are operating successfully in Ukraine.
"Of course, ballistic missiles remain a challenge. But we have provided Ukraine with protection against a significant share of cruise missiles, and we are shooting down a great many. Our interception rate against attack drones is also above 90% today, and that is a truly significant achievement of yours – a truly significant achievement for Ukraine," the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that, in record time, Ukraine's Air Force has mastered modern air defense systems. Our aces have been flying F-16 and Mirage fighter jets for several years already. Our pilots are already training in Sweden, and before long we will see Gripen fighter jets in Ukraine's skies. Work is also ongoing with France to bring Rafale fighter jets into Ukrainian skies.
The President thanked everyone working to ensure that Ukraine has combat aviation, surface-to-air missile systems, radars, and everything needed to destroy enemy targets.
Those present observed a moment of silence in memory of all the heroes who gave their lives so that Ukraine lives and who remain in the skies forever.
The Head of State presented the Cross of Military Merit award of the President of Ukraine to the wife of the fallen Colonel Oleksandr Dovhach. A first-class pilot and Commander of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, he took part in the liberation of the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions, Zmiinyi Island, and the right bank of the Kherson region. He carried out hundreds of combat sorties and delivered precision strikes against critically important enemy targets. On March 9, 2026, near Chasiv Yar, after evading an enemy missile and successfully releasing his bomb on target, his aircraft was struck by another Russian missile. Oleksandr Dovhach was killed near the village of Maiachka in the Kramatorsk district.
The President also presented the Orders of the Golden Star to two Heroes of Ukraine. The recipients of the highest state award were:
Senior Sergeant Dmytro Hrabovskyi. On May 2, 2026, using remote control technology, he successfully destroyed an aerial target at a record distance of 750 kilometers. In March of this year, he became the first in his unit to master remote-control technology for interceptor drones and destroyed an enemy aerial target. From February 2025 to March 2026 alone, he personally destroyed more than 350 aerial targets.
Major Oleksii Zhdied. Since February 2022, he has flown about 300 combat sorties in fighter aircraft. He carried out dozens of successful air strikes against enemy depots, command posts, logistics facilities, and personnel. During Russia's massive strikes against Ukraine, he destroyed more than 100 aerial targets. In March, while engaging enemy targets, his aircraft was damaged, but Oleksii Zhdied successfully landed it.
The President also honored defenders of our skies with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I and II class, “For Courage,” I, II, and III class, and the Medal “To the Defender of the Motherland.”
In particular, the Head of State presented the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I class, to Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since 2024, under his command, approximately 125,000 aerial targets have been destroyed, including more than 1,800 ballistic and cruise missiles, over 122,000 attack drones, 29 aircraft, and 13 helicopters. He organized the creation of a network of highway airstrips for aircraft takeoffs and landings, the deployment, operation, and protection of modern surface-to-air missile systems provided by partners, as well as a maneuver system for air defense units. He also initiated the creation of an integrated aerial target detection system. Working together with the Ministry of Energy to establish a system of mobile reserves, the Commander of the Air Force successfully prevented the destruction of critical infrastructure facilities and a total nationwide blackout in Ukraine.
In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a battle flag to the 640th Separate Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion of the Air Force and honorary designation ribbons to the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade of the Air Force, which received the honorary name "Named after Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Dovhach," and to the 37th Separate Aviation Squadron of Unmanned Aerial Systems of the Air Force, which received the honorary name "Named after Princess Olga." Brigadier General Serhii Yalyshev, Commander of the Air Command “Center” of the Air Force, was also promoted to the rank of Major General.
